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Communist
21st October 2009, 05:24
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Nurses Will Strike for Flu Safety (http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/10/19/nurses-will-strike-for-flu-safety/)

by Seth Michaels

AFL-CIO Now Blog - Oct 19, 2009



Some 16,000 registered nurses, members of the
California Nurses Association (http://www.calnurses.org/)/National Nurses
Organizing Committee (http://www.calnurse.org/nnoc/) (CNA/NNOC), are concerned that
hospitals across California and Nevada aren't doing
enough to prepare for H1N1 flu, including adopting new
safety standards put forth by the California Division
of Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(Cal/OSHA) and guidelines issued by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

They're demanding proper equipment and procedures to
treat patients with H1N1 (http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/)symptoms and make sure that
nurses and other patients don't get sick. It's a
potential crisis that must be addressed now, so that
vital health care facilities and staff aren't strained.

The nurses, who work at three hospital chains, plan an
Oct. 30 (http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/News/?newsID=3470) strike to protest the insufficient measures
taken to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu among patients
and health care workers.

Kathy Dennis, a registered nurse at Mercy General
Hospital in Sacramento, says she's concerned that
hospitals aren't properly supplied and prepared:

Our hospital isn't being proactive in preparing for the
expected onslaught of H1N1 infected patients. We can't
get enough N95 masks, patients are not being properly
isolated, and RNs are not being kept informed of the
latest guidelines. Last time I worked, it took me more
than four hours to get masks-and when we ran out we ran
out. We must put the proper precautions in place now
before flu seasons peaks or we will all be in serious
trouble.

The nurses also are demanding better staffing ratios
and timely notification of H1N1 danger. The proposed
one-day strike would affect hospitals in the Catholic
Healthcare West, Daughters of Charity and St. Joseph
health systems.

One nurse in Sacramento already has died from H1N1
exposure. CNA/NNOC members are fighting to make sure
nurses and patients are protected in the case of a flu
pandemic.

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